Cranston City Council Meeting – October 19, 2026

The Cranston City Council held its regular meeting on October 19, 2026, with Council President Wall presiding and all voting members present except Councilman Ritz. The agenda included a school PTO citation, public comment, commemorative resolutions, a Board of Contract and Purchase oversight ordinance, committee reports, an executive communication about the Apprentice Exploration School contract, and several continued ordinances.

Call to Order, Pledge, and Minutes

• The council was called to order, the clerk conducted roll call, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
• Prior meeting minutes were taken as a block with no objections; the motion to approve passed by roll call.

Acknowledgment: Edgewood Highland School Parents and PTO

• Councilwoman Graziano read a citation honoring Edgewood Highland School parents, volunteers, and PTO members for raising funds, painting the school, and commissioning a mural designed by Amy Sloan.
• Graziano recounted that the playground was closed three days after the 2023 school year began and that parent advocacy led to a new playground opening in October 2024.
• Citations were presented in person to Amy Sloan, James Sloan, Arbor Coello, Jill Pachico, and Panny Pacico, and online to Meg Cressy Johnson; additional absent parents were named.

Public Comments & Testimony

Docketed Matters

• Jesse Dooley, 112 Lexington Avenue, Ward 2, expressed support for the proposal requiring city council involvement on contracts/change orders over $100,000, citing an 'over twelve million dollar deficit' and concerns about spending transparency.

Undocketed Matters

• Charlotte Toulin, 37 Harmon Avenue, Ward 3, strongly supported the parking pilot program, saying Ward 3 needs it and families sometimes need temporary extra parking.
• Tamika Jefferson, 43 Lincoln Avenue, Ward 3, said tenants receive inconsistent tickets, the parking ordinance is outdated, and a parking permit program would create consistent revenue and help residents.
• Avery Mangas, 252 Montgomery Avenue, Ward 1, supported the parking permit concept but questioned whether the reported $150 permit fee was cost-prohibitive and asked for evidence about revenue.
• John Caldemon, 3 Ashley Street, asked the council to address a neglected vacant lot across from his home with roughly eight-foot-tall weeds and an unsecured abandoned shed once containing empty fuel tanks; he asked for inspections, enforcement, and a timeline.
• Andrew Belcher, 108 Shaw Avenue, speaking online, opposed the $50,000 contract-oversight threshold, saying it would create redundancy and obstacles because five Board of Contract and Purchase members are already appointed by the council.
• Lori Grover, 3 Pavilion Court, Ward 3, speaking online, raised safety concerns about construction at 0 Pavilion Avenue, including the road being dug up at least four times and a gas line strike, and asked the council to step up oversight. She also described an abandoned bus, unregistered vehicles, rats, and a rooster crowing in her neighborhood.

Discussion: Athletic Field Use and Parks/School Coordination

• Councilman Bonano requested a discussion with Parks and Recreation Director Piscapello about a communication disconnect between the school department and parks and recreation over use of school-adjacent athletic fields, citing an incident at Garden City School.
• Director Piscapello said the department has a field rental process on its website, recently aerated/top-dressed/seeded a field with good results, and has communicated with the superintendent; he said PTOs are not charged for field use.
• Councilman Bonano asked the director to explain a playground apparatus removed for repairs after parents were concerned; Piscapello said the equipment was broken, removal was for safety, and false rumors that it was stolen were not true.
• Councilman Traficante gave historical context that Cranston transferred playground and ballfield responsibility to the recreation department in 1985. Councilwoman Graziano asked for spring trash-pickup coordination; Councilmen Campabiano and Bonano praised the director's team.

Resolutions

Italian American Heritage Month

• Councilman Campabiano spoke about his Italian heritage and experiences with prejudice; he said heritage should be a source of pride, not prejudice. Councilman Bonano shared family stories, and several members added themselves as co-sponsors.
• The resolution passed unanimously by roll call.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

• Council Vice President Heroyan asked the council to honor survivors and those currently fighting breast cancer. Councilman Bonano said his mother survived breast cancer after a routine mammogram; Councilwoman Graziano and Councilman Campabiano also shared family connections.
• The resolution passed unanimously by roll call.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

• Council Vice President Heroyan described the seriousness of domestic violence and thanked the Elizabeth Buff Chafin House and the Cranston Police Department for a recent response to a domestic situation involving a child. Co-sponsors were added.
• The resolution passed unanimously by roll call.

Committee Reports and Finance Action

Claims, Safety Services, and Licenses

• Claims Committee Chairwoman Vazieri reported the committee met October 5, 2026, with nothing further to report.
• Safety Services and Licenses Committee Chairwoman Heroyan reported meetings on October 5 and October 13, including a special meeting to support a local business; the committee issued three liquor licenses.

Board of Contract and Purchase Oversight Ordinance (81702)

• Finance Chairman Councilman Anduha reported that the finance committee passed Ordinance 81702. Council President Wall discussed negotiations with the administration to avoid litigation over charter concerns.
• The negotiated amendment originally set the threshold at $100,000 and requires contracts/change orders at or above the threshold to be uploaded to the Board of Contracts calendar at least two business days before a meeting, and requires the Board to send a written request to the city council for a recommendation, with supporting documents provided.
• Councilman Anduha moved to change the threshold to $50,000, saying lower-dollar change orders are also important. Councilman Bonano supported the lower threshold because of the deficit. Director Strom said $50,000 was too low and could burden departments.
• During the debate, Director Strom clarified that the combined city-school deficit for FY26 was $9.5 million and that FY27 was currently balanced, while a public speaker and Councilman Bonano had referenced a higher deficit figure.
• The council approved the $50,000 threshold amendment, then the amended section, then the ordinance as amended, each by unanimous roll call. The ordinance will be re-advertised and return to the full council for a final vote; it will not go back to the finance or subcommittee.
• The council also entered into the record an October 7, 2026 letter from Michael Goldberg, chair of the library board of trustees; Councilman Anduha noted library purchases do not come before the Board of Contract and Purchase.

Unfunded Mandates Resolution

• Councilman Campabiano sponsored a resolution urging the Rhode Island General Assembly and Department of Education to stop enacting unfunded mandates; it passed unanimously by roll call.

Tax Abatement, Public Works, and Ordinance Committee

• A real estate tax abatement in the council file was approved with no discussion.
• Public Works Chairwoman Graziano reported the committee met October 13 and had nothing to report to the full council.
• Ordinance Committee items: Ordinance 9-2202 was continued because Councilman Ritz requested it; Ordinance 9-2203 was continued to the November meeting because the traffic engineer still needed to weigh in.

Executive Communication: Apprentice Exploration School / Gilbane Contract

• Chief of Staff Murray notified the council that the mayor was considering a nearly $2.5 million contract with Gilbane for the Apprentice Exploration School: about $900,000 for roof work and the balance for fire/life-safety, electrical, and related improvements.
• Murray said the original plan was roughly $14 million in bond funds plus a $3 million laborers contribution; the revised plan is about $8 million total, with $5.5 million already invested, including $3.1 million for the building purchase. The project would still qualify for the 74 percent RIDE reimbursement if the facility remains an educational institution.
• Councilman Traficante said the roof was completed, the contractor was seeking payment, and the laborers had backed off an earlier $3 million contribution. Councilman Bonano noted the total proposed spending on the building decreased from the earlier bond figure. Council members asked for the contract to be placed on the finance committee agenda as a discussion item; the council attorney said no council approval was legally required.

Continued Ordinances

Short-Term Rentals of Outdoor Pools (Ordinance 81701)

• The council considered Ordinance 81701, previously continued from September 22, after a public hearing. Council President Wall read an amendment limiting the ordinance to short-term rentals of outdoor pools in residential zones, prohibiting owners, lessees, tenants, or occupants from renting their pool for compensation to non-residents.
• Councilman Campabiano asked how the rule would be enforced; the answer was that enforcement could rely on pool-rental advertising and neighbor vigilance. The amendment and the ordinance as amended passed unanimously and will be re-advertised before a final council vote.

Stop Intersections: Armington Street and Marcy Street (Ordinance 61502)

• Councilwoman Graziano recommended passage after residents and children testified earlier. The traffic engineer's report was read into the record and recommended against an all-way stop, citing MUTCD warrant requirements, stop signs not being speed-control devices, and potential operational hazards.
• The council approved the ordinance unanimously by roll call.

Appointments and New Business

• The council approved Gary Lavelli to the Arts Commission by unanimous roll call after Councilwoman Graziano recommended him.
• New business was taken as a block and referred to the appropriate committees by unanimous roll call with no discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the citation for Edgewood Highland parents and PTO.
• Adopted resolutions recognizing Italian American Heritage Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• Passed the Board of Contract and Purchase ordinance amendment with a $50,000 threshold and ordered re-advertisement for a final vote.
• Approved the resolution against unfunded mandates and the real estate tax abatement.
• Continued Ordinance 9-2202 and Ordinance 9-2203.
• Approved the short-term outdoor pool rental ordinance amendment, to be re-advertised.
• Approved the Armington/Marcy stop intersection ordinance despite the traffic engineer's negative recommendation.
• Approved Gary Lavelli to the Arts Commission and referred new business to committees.
• Agreed to discuss the Apprentice Exploration School/Gilbane contract at the finance committee; no council vote was required.
• The meeting adjourned after the motion carried.